NEW YORK: India came of age in the United States with an epic show of political, social and economic clout, and cohesion on a raucous Sunday afternoon at the Madison Square Garden in New York City. In a chest-swelling, heart-stirring show of bipartisan strength, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and overseas Indians indulged in a mutual love-fest that sharply etched the country's growing power and profile in the minds of Americans, represented at the unprecedented Indian political rally by more than two dozen US lawmakers and governors.

Chants of "Bharat Mata ki Jai: and "Modi, Modi, Modi" rocked the iconic and gladiatorial arena that has witnessed many a great sporting battle and entertainment show, but nothing like this event, even though it has hosted political convention. As Prime Minister Modi walked in slowly, his Navratri fast now past 100 hours, the 18,000-plus audience erupted in joy and pride in a show of strength that will almost certainly be factored into US perception of India, now and forever.

The Prime Minister hit all the right buttons in a speech that received a rock-star ovation. He brought the roof down with crowd pleasing jokes about how a country that was once regarded as a land of snake-charmers was now spinning the world around its finger with a (computer) mouse and how India had sent a spacecraft to Mars for seven rupees a kilometre when it cost 10 rupees a kilometre in Ahmedabad ("Spoken like a true Gujarati," quipped someone). But at the heart of his speech talking up India was an appeal to the wealthy and skilled NRI/PIO constituency to give back their talent and experience to a country that nurtured them.

For nearly an hour, the man who once trawled New York and much of USA in the 1990s before he was banned from visiting till recently held his overseas constituency spellbound, telling them about the pride, problems, and promise of India. India, he said, had three strengths no country in the world has: Democracy, demographic dividend, and demand. The country was not just a back office to the world, but also had the capacity to be the world force of the world considering Indians had migrated to every corner of the world. As a country that was home to people from every corner of the world, the United States, he suggested, was a natural partner.

The programme at Madison Square Garden was overwhelming. It was very special to interact with members of the diaspora. A big thank you.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 29, 2014

Fervent applause and cheers interspersed his nearly hour long address during which he took a swig of water only at the start and kept up a strong voice as the podium rotated 360 degrees. Dressed in a saffron jacket, he spoke extempore in Hindi, his speech relayed and translated by more than a dozen networks across the world. "God bless you!" someone shouted out in the middle of his speech. "When I have the blessings of 1.25 billion people, it feels like God has indeed blessed me," he told a worshipful live audience of 18,000 people that no Indian leader has ever attracted outside India.

In a soaring finale redolent of Martin Luther King's I have a dream address, Modi said he felt indebted for the boundless love and affection Indians in India and abroad had showered on him. ''I will clear this debt, I will make an India of his dreams,'' he promised as a confetti of tri color and red-white-and-blue balloons rained down the arena.

Supporters wave an Indian flag as Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to give a speech during a reception by the Indian community in honour of his visit to the United States at Madison Square Garden(AP Photo)

Regardless of one's political leanings or affiliations, it was a matchless, unprecedented show that bespoke the power and reach of the Indian diaspora. To paraphrase the poet Rupert Brooke, "There is some corner of a foreign field that will forever be India." This afternoon, it was the Madison Square Garden, New York.

Some announcements that PM Modi made during his speech

* Life time visas for persons of Indian origin (PIO) cardholders
* PIO and OCI cards to be merged to arrive at a common card
* Those who come to India for longstay will not have to report periodically at police stations as is the present requirement
* US nationals to get long term visas and visa on arrival following electronic travel authorization

Not only speak but get the max bang for the buck .. He makes it count when he gets a chance. India is lucky to have a leader now that can be presented to the world.. Who can lever and show the real position that India should have held.

Not only speak but get the max bang for the buck .. He makes it count when he gets a chance. India is lucky to have a leader now that can be presented to the world.. Who can lever and show the real position that India should have held.

What you are proclaiming here is yet to be proven I haven't seen some major investment being done in India. So I will wait for judgement on him for an year

His greatest achievement for me has been that he has held dollar at 60INR.

jeetIAF

__________________ One isn't born one's self. One is born with mass of expectation, a mass of other people's ideas- and you have to work it all.- Sir VS Naipaul

And there needs to be hope. A human being needs hope to survive. The earlier g'ment had deprived Indians of this essential emotion too. With Modi they have hope

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"Kisi ne sahi kaha zindagi kutti cheez hai. You live life without a care in the world not realizing that life is building a heavy load of trash that it dumps on you one fine day, breaking your back." - saneless

well, of course things will happen when they do, but the energy and activity shown by govt already and its not even 6 months, is astounding/never seen before.

Also, the markers set down by the new govt about talking with Pakistan is refreshing and assertive.

P.S. go to any Indian news site home page and ctrl + f : modi and you will see media's obsession with Modi.. at least 5-6 different mentions.

From political perspective. india needs a full time defense minister though Armed forces can take care of all operational things but directive in our case is directly originating from PM instead of MoD.

Markers for Pakistan are the very good political move even I personally spoke to a state IB chief and he was very enthusiastic about certain measures.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgars

Business is all about confidence and the message sent. he got some promises from Japan (100 billion). Do not have the numbers here, but he put a lot of confidence in US CEOs too with his brekfast meet

The recent spike in stock market shows the expectation of 'Achchhe din'.

Stock market I always suspect that, Bear and Bull are difficult species but let see

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sane Less

And there needs to be hope. A human being needs hope to survive. The earlier g'ment had deprived Indians of this essential emotion too. With Modi they have hope

this is best of all arguements

jeetIAF

__________________ One isn't born one's self. One is born with mass of expectation, a mass of other people's ideas- and you have to work it all.- Sir VS Naipaul

From political perspective. india needs a full time defense minister though Armed forces can take care of all operational things but directive in our case is directly originating from PM instead of MoD.
Markers for Pakistan are the very good political move even I personally spoke to a state IB chief and he was very enthusiastic about certain measures.

There are 2 full time Defence cum Home Ministers - PM and NSA (who is an ex IB chief)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeetiaf

Stock market I always suspect that, Bear and Bull are difficult species but let see

markets gives the status of sentiment and expectation.

When Dubyaman was planning to attack Iraq, once the report of UN weapons inspectors came out saying they had not found anything so far, the US markets went up. And when the attack happened nevertheless, the markets went down. indicating that this action was a bad economic decision.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeetiaf

this is best of all arguements
jeetIAF

After retiring from IAF, you could be a miss universe judge

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This is quite a game, politics. There are no permanent enemies, and no permanent friends,only permanent interests. - Some Firang

There are 2 full time Defence cum Home Ministers - PM and NSA (who is an ex IB chief)

reminds me.. Apparently, the real Home Minister Rajnath Singh's son tried using his dad's name/position for some business deals .. the PM gave him a good wrap on the wrist.. I recall the media tried to blow it up but the matter was hushed up by the govt.

I heard campaign ads from all the parties on FM radio.. way too many of those.. but was happy to see hoardings on national highways all the way from Gurgaon to Chandigarh.. reminding voters to vote in full force on Oct 15.

Thanks for the praise, Sgaira pai... a miss universe competitor has it the toughest. They usually have to solve the most difficult world issues... within 20 seconds

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"Kisi ne sahi kaha zindagi kutti cheez hai. You live life without a care in the world not realizing that life is building a heavy load of trash that it dumps on you one fine day, breaking your back." - saneless

Thanks for the praise, Sgaira pai... a miss universe competitor has it the toughest. They usually have to solve the most difficult world issues... within 20 seconds

So have you been watching John Oliver ?

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There are 2 full time Defence cum Home Ministers - PM and NSA (who is an ex IB chief)

From NSA comes the suggestion not the directive. Directive comes from Presidents office officially and from PMO technically

But this doesn't take away the possibility of full time defense minister, can't BJP find some apolitical person for this job ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgars

markets gives the status of sentiment and expectation.

When Dubyaman was planning to attack Iraq, once the report of UN weapons inspectors came out saying they had not found anything so far, the US markets went up. And when the attack happened nevertheless, the markets went down. indicating that this action was a bad economic decision.

But with my limited understanding which could be grossly wrong, that market trend cannot be permanent and war as far as I know fuels the economy

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgars

After retiring from IAF, you could be a miss universe judge

Unless you are not competing for the same I won't be relevant there

jeetIAF

__________________ One isn't born one's self. One is born with mass of expectation, a mass of other people's ideas- and you have to work it all.- Sir VS Naipaul